HUMAN RIGHTS REVIEW (15-28 SEPTEMBER 1978) - 1978/09/29

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06627978
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: September 29, 1978

Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06627978
3.5(c)
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
NATIONAL FOREIGN ASSESSMENT CENTER
HUMAN RIGHTS REVIEW
(15-28 September 1978)
914
This publication is a compilation of articles prepared by the
geographical division& of the Office of Regional and Political Analysis.
Inquiries may be directed to the Production Staff,
3.5(c)
WARN i
SENSIT:VEiNTELLIGE,WE SOURCES
AND METliODS irivoLvED
SEQT
RP-M-78-10377
29 September 1978
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LATIN AMERICA
--Chile: In his speech marking the fifth anniversary of the
overthrow of the Allende goveinment on 11 September, President Pinochet
outlined the latest and, as yet, most definite plans for the transition
from military to civilian government. According to Pinochet, a new
constitution, prepared under his guidance, would be submitted to voters
next year, but elections would not be held until 1985. Initial reaction
to the speech has focused on the long interval before civilian rule.
Probably of greater significance, however, is the developing controversy
over the Pinochet constitution, which differs markedly from Chile's
1925 constitution. Pinochet intends to submit the new constitution
for approval in a national plebiscite, some possible outcomes of which
could produce serious, even critical problems for the regime. Whether
Chileans accept or reject the new charter, the Pinochet constitution
and the opposition to it disclose once again the political consequences
of the regime's perception of the profound cleavage in Chilean politics.
In his lengthy speech, often polemical in tone, Pinochet dealt
with more than the transition to civilian rule. As he has in the past,
he defended the legitimacy of the coup and the moral mandate of his
military regime, reviewed its progress, highly praised its economic
performance, and covered a wide range of domestic and international
issues. He met head-on many of the past and present criticisms of
his administration and its policies and boldly raised some thorny
matters, most notably the Letelier case. All in all, it was a long
and strongly worded defense of his embattled regime in its continuing
struggle against the forces and ideologies allegedly manifested in the
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overthrown Allende administration. In that struggle, Pinochet claims
to enjoy majority support against his opponents. His claim will be
put to an important test when Chilean voters are given the chance to
accept or reject the regime's constitution--a controversial document,
one of whose major purposes is to prevent legally another Allende-type
government.
So far, there are no signs the regime sees any great risk in
permitting the plebiscite. It apparently believes it enjoys high
civilian support, a perception perhaps colored by the success of its
plebiscite victory last January. Then, 75 percent voted against the
UN resolution condemning the human rights situation in Chile. Though
the choice was forced upon the voters, the election seems to have
been totally honest. It was also a great and unexpected victory for
Pinochet, who spoke of the vote as "legitimizing" his regime. Pino-
chet's position in the forthcoming constitutional plebiscite will
not be assisted by the nationalistic bias of the earlier vote, however,
and a negative outcome is possible. 3.5(c)
--Argentina-US: Argentina has indefinitely postponed formal
ratification of the Tlateloco Treaty, which seeks to ban nuclear weapons
from Latin America. There is a possibility that it will reverse its
earlier decision and decide not to adhere to the accord. The change
of mind stems in part from growing hostility in Buenos Aires to US
pressure on human rights. It also reflects the fact that Argentina
has not received any assurances it will get heavy water technology
from the US. Contrary to the US position, the Argentines insist that
the US offered them heavy water technology last November in exchange
for their ratification of full-scope safeguards. President Videla
went against the advice of many of his advisers when he signed the
treaty earlier this year. He has been under strong pressure to withdraw
his support by those who believe that delay or refusal is the only way
to stand up to the US.
--Ecuador: A plot by some senior Ecuadorean military officers
and election officialsto announce widespread voting irregularities
and fraud as a prelude to voiding the country's two-stage presidential
election apparently has been shelved temporarily. The postponement
seems to have been prompted by broad exposure in the media and by
denunciations from civilian political leaders. It remains uncertain
whether the conspiracy can succeed, but US Embassy officials in Quito
believe that the plotters probably will try again after the public
furor subsides.
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